Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 798
Episode 798: Bloody Battle in the Jungle (4)
The idea of sending troops out immediately without waiting for a rearguard action soon became useless.
It wasn’t because of Lee Jing-ok’s decision.
This was due to the natural environment of the beachhead.
Around the time the 6th transport was completed, rain began to fall on the bridgehead.
It was the beginning of the rainy season.
“I don’t even care about the rainy season here.”
The staff member next to him responded to Lee Jing-ok’s words as he watched the rain falling down the eaves of the headquarters building.
“According to the story of Chogwan and his companions, they do not move carelessly during this rainy season. “Once the heavy rain passes, the road that was there disappears.”
“How long does this rainy season last?”
“The longer term is half a year.
“Hmm… this is the problem. If you think about the time the troops travel, you can face this damn rainy season again when you arrive in Tenochtitlan.”
Lee Jing-ok looked at the sky with a face full of worry.
Lee Jing-ok’s worries were not unfounded.
* * *
As the rainy season began, the weather around the bridgehead became ‘perfect for catching people’.
Once the rain stopped for almost half of the day, the humid weather with extreme humidity continued.
“Nimi! “The summer here was heaven!”
The soldiers, exhausted from the hot and humid weather, complained while wiping their sweat.
“Is it because of this weather that there are people who wouldn’t be able to kill you by peeling off their shells?”
The soldiers, exhausted from the irritating weather, were all on edge.
The good news was that the weather was so humid and hot that the energy to fight was gone.
“It is said that everything in the world has its own benefits…”
The commanders, who were worried that a fight would break out between the soldiers who were tired of the weather and waiting, sighed in relief and looked at the rainy sky.
* * *
“It would be a big deal if we encountered the rainy season when we arrived in Tenochtitlan, the capital where those damn bastards live. The soldiers may be exhausted and not be able to fight properly. “The supplies will get wet and become a mess.”
Lee Jing-ok’s face was full of worry.
A force of 30,000 was by no means a small force.
According to the plan, it took only five days for 30,000 troops to leave the bridgehead.
And there were almost no proper roads on the route to the enemy’s capital.
Of course, there was a road for the natives, but it was as good as nonexistent for 30,000 troops to use.
In other words, they had to go out by pioneering a path that did not exist, and of course the procession was bound to be long.
Naturally, the troops pioneering the path at the forefront would tire quickly and would have to replace the troops at every opportunity.
And every time, the advance would be delayed.
Supply was also a problem. The longer the procession, the more time it would take to supply it.
“Supply is the problem…”
Lee Jing-ok’s biggest concern was supply.
* * *
Even when the first operation was planned, difficult discussions took place to find a solution to the supply problem.
One of the proposals made at that time was for the soldiers to carry all their food and ammunition with them.
“It is a daily routine, not only in our hometown but also in new locations, to walk tens of miles a day with a full load on our backs! Just lose and move!”
“In the case of military provisions, it may be heavy at first, but it will gradually become lighter over time. Because the amount will decrease as the soldiers consume it!”
Lee Jing-ok, who heard this suggestion, gave a simple answer.
“Just like you said, pack your bags and take a walk.”
“yes?”
“Not only are soldiers moving with their burdens, but shouldn’t military officers also be moving in the same way? So, you guys, please demonstrate first to see if it is possible. Let’s see… You said it would take a few days to get from the beachhead to the enemy’s capital, right?”
“The shortest time was 15 days.”
“Hmm… I’ll take a 15-day ration, enough ammunition for 3 battles, and all the necessary medicines.”
“I…”
“I told you to try it!”
Following Lee Jing-ok’s order, the proponents had to pack their bags and go around the parade ground, and in less than half a day, the proposal was spread out.
“Now… I’m so exhausted after half a day even on flat ground that I can’t move. What kind of place should we go? “We have to go through the jungle and cross the mountain. Do you think it will be possible?”
To Lee Jing-ok’s question, the proposers answered with difficulty with tired faces.
“The officials were mistaken.”
“Go in and rest.”
Lee Jing-ok turned around and muttered softly.
“Was it too peaceful? There are too many people who know combat but don’t know war…”
After hearing the report later, Hyang chuckled and muttered.
“There won’t be anyone like General Mudaguchi, a man of merit for our independence.”
* * *
“I made plans anticipating the jungle and rainy season, but the situation is worse than expected.”
The staff spoke again to Lee Jing-ok, who was worried about the operation becoming difficult due to the rainy season in Central America.
“Didn’t this bastard Cho-gwan report that part? Tenochtitlan doesn’t get this much rain. “It is said that the weather will fall at about one o’clock a day and the rest of the time will be clear, so there is nothing to worry about.”
“That’s the problem. What I didn’t expect was that Chogwan’s experience and ours were so different. When Chogwan said it would rain heavily all day, we only thought about the rainy season here. But see now. “Isn’t this the rainy season here?”
“….”
The staff fell silent at Lee Jing-ok’s point.
Lee Jing-ok returned to his seat and continued speaking.
“This is an operation based on my experience at the headquarters. The local situation exceeds our expectations, so coordination is needed again. “Call the commanders.”
“yes.”
* * *
Surprised by the local natural environment exceeding their expectations, the imperial commanders diligently revised their strategy and monitored their soldiers.
Thanks to the diligent actions of commanders, starting with Lee Jing-ok, the soldiers of the conquering army stationed at the bridgehead were able to endure the rainy season without major losses.
And all of this process was written up in detailed reports and loaded onto the returning transport ship.
After confirming the contents of the report brought on the transport ship, Hyang gave orders to the officials.
“This is a very important lesson. “Please transcribe it properly and send it to your original paper.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lee Jing-ok’s report, copied at the direction of the township, was also included in this paper. After receiving Lee Jing-ok’s report, Wan carefully examined the contents and gave orders to Hwang Bo-in.
“Order the Ministry of National Defense to revise its manual and doctrine based on this report.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As a side note, thanks to this feedback, the imperial army was able to obtain all the environmental information of a considerable area. And based on this information, it became the most adaptable military.
In addition, meteorologists, environmental scientists, and biologists from all over the world came to call the Empire’s Ministry of Defense a ‘treasury of data’ because it was the holder of the widest range of weather and environmental information for the longest period of time.
* * *
As the rainy season neared its end, all the forces of the conquest army were gathered at the bridgehead.
Even through the rainy season, the expansion work on the bridgehead continued, so by the time the last troops arrived, the bridgehead had become a full-fledged military port and defense facility.
“This will come in handy!”
Lee Jing-ok smiled and accepted the admiral’s admiration for the well-built facility.
“Think of it as a replacement for the ferry fare you pay when coming and going.”
“Then a little more…”
“You damn man!”
“It’s a joke. Nong. ha ha ha!”
“ha ha ha!”
The two people created a warm atmosphere by joking lightly and continued their conversation.
“Anyway, the report you sent was really helpful. “I am especially grateful that you investigated changes in weather and when strong winds blow.”
The admiral’s gratitude was not pretentious. For sailing ships, the wind was both medicine and poison. Therefore, the imperial navies meticulously recorded the times when storms frequently occurred on major shipping routes. However, compared to this paper, Shinji was still lacking in quantity and accuracy.
As the number of fronts and personnel of the Navy stationed in Shinji increased, information was increasing, but it was still insufficient. In such a situation, the weather report written and sent by Lee Jing-ok was like the sweet rain that ended the drought.
“It’s nice to hear that it was helpful.”
“Then will you be dispatching troops as soon as this rainy season ends?”
“According to what Chu Guan said, the rainy season will end in ten days, so we will leave in five days.”
“Is that so? Good luck once again.”
“Thank you.”
Five days later, the gates of the bridgehead were opened and the vanguard of the conquering army finally began to advance towards the jungle.
* * *
“The southern jungle is terrible.”
Lee Jing-ok stuck out his tongue as he moved along the path cleared by Seonbong.
The soldiers who entered the jungle became exhausted faster than they initially expected, or even faster than their later plans.
As if it wasn’t enough to be on guard for possible ambushes, poisonous plants that could kill you with just a slight glance were swarming everywhere, and poisonous insects and wild beasts were abundant.
The soldiers had never been this tired when clearing the jungle near the bridgehead.
This was because there was a beachhead right behind it. The existence of a beachhead where they could immediately escape in case of even the slightest danger was a great support for the soldiers.
But where they were now was in the middle of the jungle.
The only people the soldiers could trust were their fellow soldiers. However, if you neglect your precautions even a little, you end up alone in the jungle. This was because the dense jungle bushes made it impossible to see anyone even from a short distance away.
In reality, something similar to this happened and the advance was halted several times.
If something happened, such as a soldier going ahead disappearing or losing connection with the unit following, all units came to a standstill.
“I guess I should give up the idea that we will pass through the jungle in 15 days.”
At Lee Jing-ok’s words, the commanders all nodded with gloomy faces.
To lighten the gloomy mood, the staff reported as many positive aspects as possible.
“We anticipated that and prepared enough supplies. And if you encounter Ssang Cho Guan’s tribe and other tribes, you won’t have to suffer like this because you can secure a sufficient number of guides.”
“There is no time I look forward to them more than now.”
Three days later, the vanguard unit made contact with the warriors of the Zeng tribe.
Seong, who was leading the unit, greeted the tribal warriors with a bright face, and the commander of the vanguard unit immediately sent a messenger.
Only then did Lee Jing-ok’s face brighten after receiving the report through the messenger.
“I can finally take a breather!”
Lee Jing-ok paired the warriors of the Xeng tribe with the imperial soldiers and placed them in the middle of the unit.
These people, composed in this way, went back and forth between the processions, preventing them from getting lost or going off onto different paths, and quickly finding water sources that the conquering army needed.
Thanks to this, the movement speed of the conquering army gradually increased.